Drunk man drives 8 blocks with dying cyclist on Altima: Cops
Share this @internewscast.com

Left inset: Xavier Rigby (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang (Facebook). Background: The area of 49th Street and 10th Avenue South in Gulfport, Fla., where Xavier Rigby allegedly struck and killed Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang (Google Maps).

Authorities report that a Florida man, allegedly intoxicated at the time, hit a woman riding an “E-bike” and continued to drive for about eight blocks with her body on the windshield of his Nissan Altima before she fell off and was left unassisted.

Xavier Rugby, 22, faces charges including leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, vehicular homicide, and DUI manslaughter for the incident that resulted in the death of Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang, 38, from St. Petersburg, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Strang was riding along 49th Street South in Gulfport when she was hit by Rugby around 10 p.m., police say. She succumbed to her injuries on-site.

“Rigby was operating a 2021 Nissan Altima southbound on 49th Street, nearing 10th Avenue South, at a high speed,” according to the sheriff’s office. “Investigators indicate Rigby struck Strang, causing her to fly off her E-bike and land on the vehicle’s windshield. Rigby proceeded to drive approximately eight blocks before Strang was released from the vehicle.”

Instead of stopping, Rigby allegedly fled the scene “without contacting 911 or waiting for police and emergency services.” St. Petersburg Police Department officers later located him near 2222 49th Street South in St. Petersburg and attempted to conduct a DUI test.

“Rigby showed signs of impairment and refused to cooperate with field sobriety tests,” the PCSO release says. Rigby was arrested soon after and transported to the Pinellas County Jail, where he remained behind bars Sunday.

“Heaven gained one of the most beautiful (inside and out) angels who loved life to the fullest,” Strang’s aunt and godmother wrote on Facebook Sunday. “[Strang] was just getting her life back together when a drunk driver struck her while she was riding her bike in Gulfport, FL. The person in the car fled the scene. Please pray for our family as we mourn her passing.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Man in Gainesville Arrested for Burglary and Battery After Attempting to Deceive Officer with Fake Identity

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 37-year-old man named Clarence Dion Banks…

Shocking Allegations: Nursing Home Accused of Neglect After Elderly Man Dies in Sealed Room

Inset: Charles Brush (Michael Hill Trial Law). Background: Avenue at Broadview Heights…

Rapid Evolution of Personal Injury Law: Uncovering the Key Changes in South Carolina

The realm of personal injury law is ever-evolving, influenced by shifts in…

Tragic Discovery: Toddler’s Death Linked to Frying Pan in Disturbing Case, Police Report

A 24-year-old woman from California has been taken into custody following the…

Man Attacks Children’s Mother, Attempts Cleanup as She Makes Desperate 911 Call

Background: The Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead, N.Y. (Google Maps). Inset:…

Firefighter Fatally Shot While Dining with Estranged Wife; Suspect Remained Silent, Police Report

Background: News footage of the Hempfield Township, Pa., home where Robert Naugle…

Gainesville Incident: Woman Allegedly Targets Elderly Driver in Deliberate Car Collision

An unsettling incident unfolded in Gainesville, Florida, leading to the arrest of…

Man Allegedly Shoots Father of Three in Target Parking Lot Dispute, Authorities Report

Inset left: Tyler Linn (Savannah Police Department). Inset right: Matthew Traywick (Vaden…

Tragic New Year’s Eve: Minnesota Man Accidentally Shoots Friend with Loaded Gun

A tragic incident unfolded at a New Year’s Eve gathering in Minnesota,…

Chilling Threat at Local Pub: Man Returns with Ominous Message After Ejection Over Disturbance

Inset: Luis Armondo Diaz Mendez (Bexar County Jail). Background: The pub where…

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Challenges Trump Administration’s Deportation Case Using Legal Loophole

Inset: Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an undated photo (CASA). Background: President Donald…

Tragic Love Triangle: Man’s Deadly Assault on Ex’s New Relationship Ends in Shooting

Background: N. Oxford St. in Indianapolis, Ind., where Kenneth Anthony Murff Jr.…